Sleek, modern, and freshly rebooted, Waterman’s Harbor is a beacon of new, wedged into a prime waterfront site on Dana Point Harbor’s salt-worn embarcadero. Open since September, the glossy space draws the same crowd of locals, tourists, and Catalina Express passengers that kept the crusty Jolly Roger alive on this footprint for 40 years. This 300-seat whale offers scenic views of the harbor.

Login / Register

It’s Negroni Week―You Know What to Do

Lots of options to drink and do good, imbibe with a bonus

Did you know it’s Negroni Week? It couldn’t happen to a nicer cocktail—the bracing mixture of equal parts red vermouth, gin, and Campari is an old-school classic whose popularity has returned with the rise of Craft Cocktail Nation. Starting today and running through Sunday, the Imbibe Magazine– and Campari-sponsored event is where negronis give back—participating bars and restaurants worldwide donate proceeds to a charity of their choice from each negroni sold.

In Orange County, a dozen restaurants have elected to support Inspire Artistic Minds (IAM), the Orange-based nonprofit that funds artistic endeavors with an emphasis on the culinary and the cocktail. Bobby Navarro, whose 100Eats.com evolved from a blog chronicling his world-wide fine-dining journey into a culinary-event incubator, founded IAM to foster education and experience for those working in the food industry. Since its first awards less than a year ago, the charity has bestowed some $30,000 in scholarships and expenses.

Navarro, a negroni aficionado himself, has but one stipulation when ordering the drink: He asks for Carpano Antica vermouth, then leaves the choice of gin and any changeup on the Campari to the bartender—Aperol is a popular twist, for instance, but some go well beyond that. Wouldn’t Negroni Week be the perfect time to try a new variation? If you’re out and about, keep an eye peeled for Navarro in his distinctive orange scarf.

IAM-partnered Negroni Week establishments span the county, from Anepalco’s and Ways & Means in Orange to Broadway in Laguna Beach to Rosine’s Mediterranean in Anaheim Hills. Los Angeles’ Ink is on board, too, with negroni specials all week long, as well as a couple of San Diego restaurants. You can see the complete list supporting IAM here, and search all participating Negroni Week restaurants by city here.